Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex condition that involves unwanted distressing thoughts and compulsive rituals. Even though the DSM-5 doesn’t categorize OCD as an anxiety disorder, according to the American Psychiatric Association they define it as “an anxiety disorder in which time-people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions).” Obsessions and compulsions are time consuming and take up more than an hour a day or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. (5th ed., p. 129) This was present in the six British teens in the 2013 documentary “Extreme OCD Camp.” The British teens Jack, Josh, Imation, Libya, Andrew, and Meagan were plagued with a life of obsessions and compulsions. Each individual expressed unique but similar symptoms due to their OCD. A few of the unique symptoms Jack expressed due to his fear of germs were to wear gloves in public, not to use unsterilized cups, plates and utensils, avoid eating improper handled food and to not touch anything that wasn’t sterilized first. Josh has a symmetry disorder, if he touches something with one hand he has to do the same with the other. Imation is plagued by terrible thoughts of death, avoids certain foods, and has to tap everything she passes. Libya has a fear of contamination, being dirty and bad smells. Andrew avoids the number 13 and has a fear of contamination and then we have Meagan who is flooded with horrible thoughts that people she loves will be harmed. Each one of these individuals also suffers similar symptoms such as anxiety, panic attacks, powerful thoughts, urges and fears. The impacts of these symptoms have turned their world upside down. They are constantly haunted not just by the obsessions and thoughts but by the compulsions they have due to these radical thoughts to ease the anxiety. Although they try to adapt to their environments it has put a significant strain on their personal relationships, educational future and occupational outlook. Due to the nature of their OCD these teens underwent a behavioral treatment called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). This treatment is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy which has been proven very effective. They were repeatedly exposed to objects or situations that produced anxiety, obsessive fears, and provoked compulsive behavior or mental rituals. Then they are told to resist performing the behaviors they feel so bound to perform. (Comer, pg. 165) Through exposure, they learned to decrease rituals that consumed their lives. This treatment was once again proven effective for the teens in this video. The teens realized that they can learn to overcome their compulsive behavior and take back their lives. After returning home each individual showed fearlessness and strength by doing things they couldn’t do before. According to our textbook, between 55 and 85 percent of clients with obsessive-compulsive disorder have been found to improve considerably with exposure and response prevention, with improvements that often continue indefinitely. (Comer, pg. 166) Research has also revealed key limitations. Few clients who receive the treatment overcome all their symptoms, and as many as one-quarter fail to improve at all. (Comer, pg. 166) In my opinion not every treatment is going to work for every individual, but it also is only going to work if you follow the treatment plan and adhere to the procedures. I personally feel this treatment definitely helps patients realize they can learn to control their OCD and gain some of their life back. It’s not an easy treatment especially with the anxiety you have to face but it’s a treatment to show a client they are strong and can overcome this disorder. Since Exposure and Response Prevention treatment might not be for everyone there are other options available. One option is medication which combined with behavioral and cognitive therapy has a higher level of symptom reduction than doing each of the approaches alone. Other options include traditional outpatient, intensive outpatient, day programs, partial hospitalization, residential care and inpatient treatments. There are also more drastic options available when OCD proves resistant to conventional treatments, these options include brain surgery, gamma knife, and deep brain stimulation but again this is a more drastic approach. OCD treatments can be difficult, and requires a lot of courage and determination.

References
Comer, R. (2015). Anxiety, Obsessive compulsive and Related Disorders. In Abnormal Psychology (Ninth edition ed., pp. 165-166). Worth.
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. (5th ed., p. 129). (2013). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.
How is OCD Treated? (2014, April 28). Retrieved September 17, 2015.
International OCD Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2015.